Introduction to Fire Safety Management

8.1.3 Naked lights and fl ames
By their nature lighting units emit heat; the amount of heat 
will generally depend upon two factors, the wattage or 
energy consumption and the type of light, such as halo-
gen lamps, incandescent units or fl uorescent strip lighting.
As in the case of all fi res, the lights themselves will 
need to be positioned close to or touching a combust-
ible material, or in the case of fl ammable mixtures in air, 
provide suffi cient heat or an ignition source to ignite the 
vapours.
Halogen lighting (high heat output) is becoming 
more popular within industry and it used to light both 
internal and external signage. If the signage itself is 
combustible and the halogen unit has been installed 
incorrectly or poorly maintained the lighting unit may 
come into contact with the signage starting a fi re.
Halogen desk lamps are also in evidence in offi ces 
and workshops to provide additional task lighting. These 
units if poorly positioned and left unattended have the 
ability to start a fi re.
As in the case of all electrical systems lighting 
systems have the ability if poorly maintained or incorrectly 
installed to provide an ignition source for any available 
combustible material.
The inappropriate use of lighting units such as in the 
case of inspection lamps used in vehicle workshops is 
also known to be a cause of fi res in the mechanical and 
engineering sectors of industry.
Naked fl ames are a constant source of ignition 
within industry. The fl ame generating devices such as 
gas torches, welding units and cutting equipment (oxy-
acetylene) account for a number of fi res throughout 
industry each year. Fires starting from the use of these 
pieces of equipment are generally caused by human 
error when using them in close proximity to other 
combustible or fl ammable materials, poorly maintained 
equipment or in appropriate use. These issues will be 
discussed later in section 8.2.